Meet Birmingham's lost philosopher - George Dawson (1821-1876)

In the first of two podcasts Professor Ewan Fernie tells the thrilling but almost totally forgotten story of George Dawson - preacher, activist and father of the Civic Gospel - who shaped the world's image of Birmingham in the 19th century.

Described as 'Brummagem Dawson' by fellow philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), he was the individual who changed Birmingham from the town which Jane Austen described as 'not a place to promise much' into 'the chief centre of civilisation, the chief town of democracy, the town from which Liberty radiates to all the world', in only 50 years.

Today the modern city, which owes him so much, has utterly forgotten this global figure.

Listen to this extraordinary story as Professor Fernie talks to Mike Gibbs of History West Midlands.

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The Birmingham Political Machine: Winning Elections for Joseph Chamberlain

The British electorate swelled dramatically with the passing of the Second Reform Act in 1867. This presented the political class with a significant challenge. Here was a large, new electorate which needed to be understood, managed, enthused, and persuaded to vote for the right candidate in local and parliamentary elections....